What do a German shepherd, an extraterrestrial, and an autistic boy have in common? This is not the start of a bad joke, but it’s about three books I’ve recently read which have these characters as their narrators. And each of these narrators bring a unique point of view that forces us to see ourselves and the world from a different perspective.
First there’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon. Christopher, a fifteen-year-old boy born with Asperger’s syndrome (a high-functioning part of the autistic spectrum), tells us about his world in what reviewers say is a triumph of empathy. Christopher hates to be touched, hates any change to his routine, and cannot understand or interpret most human emotions. He’s also a mathematical genius. When his neighbor’s dog is murdered in her yard and he comes under suspicion simply because he’s different, Christopher decides to solve the mystery himself using his peculiar gifts. What follows is a glimpse into his mental processes as he tells us how he forces himself to move from his comfort zone in the investigation. I left this story feeling like there must be so many different ways to move through the universe, and who’s to say if there’s a right or wrong viewpoint?
A truly alien viewpoint of the world is that of the narrator in “The Humans” by Matt Haig. If this name sounds familiar you may have read my earlier column on his best seller, “The Midnight Library.” The Narrator (we’ll call him Narrator because he doesn’t have a name) is sent to earth by his very advanced civilization on a mission to kill Professor Andrew Martin, who has made an important and dangerous discovery, a discovery which will advance civilization to a level that humanity is not yet ready for and so will lead to the inevitable destruction of all life on the planet. If anyone else has been informed, he must seek out and kill them also. The best way for all this to happen is for the Narrator to assume Andrew’s identity and investigate his life from the inside. As he begins to live Andrew’s life with a wife, teenage son, and dog, the Narrator finds himself at first disgusted at everything, but he gradually begins experiencing emotions for the first time, and gradually realizes that these flawed, primitive humans have many admirable qualities, too. The Narrator wants to spend more time on earth to study humans, but his overseers — who speak to him through telepathy — insist that his mission is complete and he needs to return home. But the Narrator gradually realizes that he has become more human than alien and he asks to be “disconnected” so that he can continue to live a human life with all its shortcomings. What was most interesting to me about this story is the viewpoints that the alien has, and how he is both attracted and repelled by the earth’s inhabitants. It’ll really make you think.
Now to the lighter side with a series I’ve mentioned before, the Chet and Bernie books by Spencer Quinn. This is a whimsical collection of mysteries set in the Southwest that follows private investigator Bernie Little and his “partner,” the dog Chet. Spencer Quinn is obviously a dog lover and someone who really likes seeing into the thought processes of dogs. He allows his narrator Chet free rein to tell the story. Don’t assume that this is one of those cutesy talking animals series; Chet is very serious and dedicated to helping Bernie solve his cases and making things right. The humor comes in the way Chet interprets what he sees and hears, and how his canine instincts prove helpful to the case. I’ve just finished #15 in this series, called “Tender is the Bite,” and I’m looking forward to the newest installment, called “It’s a Wonderful Woof.” If you’re thinking about trying these mysteries, start with the first one, “Dog On It,” and go in order.
It was Scottish poet Robert Burns who said (and this is a paraphrase) how eye-opening it would be “to see ourselves as others see us.” Try novels with a different kind of narrator to get that totally new perspective. Happy reading!
Kaye West retired from the Henry County Library System. She enjoys reading, taking daily walks, and spending time with friends. She lives in McDonough with her husband.
